What we learned as FC Cincinnati faces elimination from the Leagues Cup

For the second time this season, FC Cincinnati lost a tough heartbreaking game at a crucial point in a major tournament to a Mexican side.

\n Cincinnati lost 2-1 to Atlas FC in their third group-stage game in the Leagues Cup Aug. 11 at TQL Stadium. Cincy conceded two goals from the 79th minute on to squander a big chance to advance in the tournament.

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\n Cincinnati finished 2-1 in the group stage with six points. Pending the results of other group-stage games Aug. 12 and 13, Cincinnati will likely be eliminated from the tournament.

\n It was a similar finish to the club’s loss in the Concacaf Champions Cup to Tigres in the round of 16. Cincinnati lost a 3-0 lead in the aggregate series and was eliminated when Tigres scored at the death in March and won the game, 5-1.

\n “Yeah, it's a tough one,” said Cincinnati’s Gerardo Valenzuela. “We definitely had the motivation and the confidence to go and win this tournament and we were playing so well in these few games.”

\n Can FC Cincinnati advance to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals?

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\n Cincinnati faces very long odds to be one of the four Major League Soccer clubs to advance to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals.

\n Columbus and Charlotte have already finished ahead of Cincy at the end of play Aug. 11. Columbus defeated Pumas in a PK shootout to finish with eight points in the group stage. Charlotte lost 1-0 to Pachuca and finished with six points, but finished ahead of Cincy in goal differential at plus-four to plus-three.

\n Entering the night, there were five other MLS teams that could finish ahead of Cincy in points. Real Salt Lake was one of them, and beat Juarez later Aug. 11. There are eight teams with three points who could match Cincinnati with a win and finish ahead of the Orange and Blue on tiebreakers.

\n “We know how it is to play against these teams from Mexico,” Evander said. “They're never going to give up. And they are a team that even though they lost their two games, they came here to win. I think we should have shown them, should have shown the same.”

\n Cincinnati conceded two goals late in the game

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\n Holding a 1-0 lead with 12 minutes left in regulation, FC Cincinnati allowed two goals on rebound shots to lose the game.

\n Atlas tied it in the 79th. Florian Monzon knocked in a rebound off a shot that goalkeeper Evan Louro couldn't control, and it was 1-1.

\n Atlas took a 2-1 lead in the 86th minute. Jesus Serrato, a 20-year old academy player for Atlas who came in late in the game, knocked in a rebound from close range after a hard shot form Ryan Mmaee.

\n “With the first goal, with the turnover, and then the shot at the rebound and all of it, there are enough moments to prevent that,” Noonan said. “I think that's pretty clear. And then the second one, a couple duels lost with some direct play, and then still plenty of moments to prevent the shot. Yeah, that's a disappointing one with where we were positioned and how we finished.”

\n FC Cincinnati couldn’t crack World Cup star Camilo Vargas

\n Cincinnati had 17 shots on the night. Atlas keeper Camilo Vargas, coming off an outstanding World Cup performance with four clean sheets for Colombia, made some outstanding saves down the stretch.

\n One of his toughest came in second-half stoppage time and set up a controversial call. Cincinnati’s Ayoub Jabbari was near the left post and headed a cross that Vargas saved. The ball deflected in front of him. Jabbari and an Atlas player slid to try to get to it. The Atlas player was called for a penalty when he missed the ball and hit Jabbari’s foot on the follow-through.

\n The call went to video-assisted review, and the lead official waved off the penalty. Vargas made a great save on Tom Barlow soon after, and the final whistle sounded.

\n If Cincy had tied the game late, it would have earned one point for the draw, then the teams would have gone to a penalty shootout for an extra point. Getting those one or two points would have been vital for Cincinnati's chances of getting to the quarterfinals.

\n “We had a good opportunity with the chance that we didn't convert,” Noonan said. “It’s a 50-50 ball, but they didn't go to the penalty, so I don't have too much argument. We had a chance to finish before the penalty. When I look back at it, doesn't look like it's egregious in a call that shouldn't be overturned. So that's not the difference.”

\n Said Valenzuela: “It’s just finishing the game. Like the chances we get, we get multiple chances that even after the goal that we either could have tied or could have went up 2-0 and put the game away, then control the whole game.”

\n FC Cincinnati took the lead with more Evander magic

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\n Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute with another Evander shot from outside the box. He dribbled inside from the left corner of the box, freeing up space and delivering another rocket for a goal. The ball deflected off the head of Atlas’s Paulo Ramirez and behind the outstretched hand of Atlas keeper Camila Vargas.

\n Bryan Ramirez was given the assist as Evander scored his 13th goal of the season.

\n Cincinnati was not credited with a shot attempt until late in the first half but notched five in the closing minutes, although with only an expected-goal mark of 0.4.

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Evander with a long-distance BANGER to open @fccincinnati 's scoring against Atlas! ☄️ 📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/YjJBDp65iP pic.twitter.com/eQLJ5UeX85

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 12, 2026

\n Atlas had one shot, saved by Evan Louro on a crossing shot to the far post.

\n Cincy finished with 17 shots to 9 for Atlas.

\n Evander said the loss was a missed opportunity.

\n “I think the League Cup (would have) been a good moment for the club to have a trophy,” Evander said. “But it's just throwing things away. And I think we need to be better. We need to have more urgency as a tea...

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